Chocolate Truffle Cake

Today is my sister's first anniversary and also the third wedding anniversary of our dearest friends S n S.I made this delightful chocolate truffle cake to celebrate the occasion. For a while I have been making cakes with the readily made mix from the store. But one will never get the satisfaction of making a cake from scratch. After pestering my good friend M for her Chocolate truffle cake recipe, I got on a mission to make this wonderful yummy cake. I enjoyed making this cake from scratch. M was so patient in instructing me step by step. This cake is every chocolate lovers dream.

Although the cake turned out little hard, I loved the taste. The chocolate just melted smooth in my mouth. My husband who is not a chocolate person,loved it after warming it up for 10 seconds in microwave. It was a total heaven. All that I could think of is creamy,milky,chocolatey and moisty. Try this lip smacking recipe and you will never regret it.

Ingredients:
For the truffles:
4oz bitter sweet chocolate broken,
3tbsp heavy cream
1tbsp unsalted butter
1/3cup confectioners sugar
2tbsp marsala
1/3 cup cocoa powder

For the Cake:
2cups all purpose flour
1/4cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2tsp baking soda
1/4tsp salt
2oz bittersweet chocolate
1/3cup butter
3/4cup sugar
3oz cream cheese
2 eggs
1tbsp marsala
1tsp vanilla extract
3/4cup water

Filling:
8oz bitter sweet chocolate
1/3cup heavy cream
2tbsp marsala

Frosting:
5oz bittersweet chocolate
10tbsp butter softened
1/3cup confectioners sugar
1tsp vanilla extract

For truffle:
1.Melt the butter,chocolate and cream on double boiler,over barely simmering water.
2.Add the confectioners sugar and marsala and whip until its smooth.
3.Refrigerate for about an hour.
4.On a plate spread the cocoa powder. Dust your hand with cocoa and roll spoonfuls of the chocolate mixture into small balls. The soft pliability makes it easy to work with.
5.Refrigerate for 30 mins or so

For Cake:
1.Preheat the oven to 350 F and butter two 9-inch pans.
2.In a large mixing bowl, sift all the dry ingredients.
3.Melt the chocolate on a double boiler and set aside to cool.
4.In a large mixing bowl beat cream cheese, butter and sugar till creamy.
5.Add the eggs one at a time, until blended after each addition, reduce the speed to low and add in the melted chocolate,marsala and vanilla extract.
6.Add the dry mixture gradually alternating with water.Spoon the batter into the prepared tins.
7.Bake for 25 -35 mins or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8.Cool the cakes in the pan for 10 mins and remove from pans and cool on the cooling rack

For filling:
1.Melt chocolate,cream on a double boiler over barely simmering water.
2.Add marsala;mix and set aside to cool

For frosting:
1.Melt the chocolate over a double boiler of barely simmering water.
2.Beat butter and sugar in a medium sized bowl at a medium speed until creamy.
3.Add the melted chocolate;mix until glossy and smooth.Set aside to cool.

Final part: Assembling the cake
1.Split each cake.
2.Place one layer on a serving plate and spread 1/3 of the filling;repeat with 2 more layers.
3.Top with remaining layer and spread the cake with frosting.Decorate with truffles.

COOK'S FILE:
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HINT:I would recommend you to make the truffle first and then start making the cake.
VARIATION:Instead of marsala you can use coffee liquor or instant coffee dissolved in water.